Sunday, March 01, 2009

Health Canada asks for quarantine of drugs from Indian plant under investigation

From the Canadian Press:
An Indian pharmaceutical firm has agreed to a Health Canada request to quarantine all drugs coming into Canada from a manufacturing plant alleged to have falsified data and test results.

Health Canada said Thursday that Ranbaxy Canada has agreed to place a hold on all drugs coming into the country from the Paonta Sahib manufacturing facility.

Health Canada revealed the move in a brief end-of-day email in response to questioning from The Canadian Press.

The questions were provoked by a statement issued Wednesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA said it was halting review of new drug applications involving the Paonta Sahib plant because it had evidence of data falsification.

Health Canada provided no details of how many or what type of drugs Ranbaxy Canada imports to this country. Nor did it offer advice to people who might be taking those drugs.

"Health Canada is taking appropriate actions to mitigate the potential risks to the health and safety of Canadians," said the response, sent by spokesperson Alastair Sinclair.

"Following Health Canada's request, Ranbaxy Canada has quarantined all products imported into Canada from the Paonta Sahib site." ...more

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